Perhaps it’s the grey skies or because at this time of year one’s thoughts inevitably turn towards self-improvement, or because in a time of uncertainty and confusion, it is comforting to focus on areas within one’s control. Or maybe it’s simply down to coincidence. Whatever the reason, this issue has a very wholesome thread running through it, from using the workplace as an ersatz gymnasium to building your own desk – out of cardboard, to importing elements from nature to boost productivity.

Business Info Magazine – Issue 129 – Free Download

I don’t know about the cardboard desks, but doing some exercise (or exercises) where and when you can seems like a very sensible idea (and a perfect excuse for a screenbreak ). Similarly, bringing elements of the outside world into the offie can only be a good thing. One knows instinctively that plants are good to have around, even the ugly, dark, shiny ones that offie managers seem to favour.

Now, businesses are being invited to participate in a research study to fid out, amongst other things, whether just a picture of a fild or forest or mountain stream can boost employee productivity (see page 12). This and other studies, like research into the benefis of green-certifid buildings by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and SUNY Upstate Medical University (see page 8), are giving useful ammunition to those interested in creating a softer, more welcoming offie environment.

The offie as a refuge might become an increasingly attractive proposition as the fall-out from the extraordinary events of 2016 and, no doubt, 2017 create further uncertainty. And on that cheerful note, it just remains for me to wish all our readers a Happy New Year!